Cazenovia town officials plan to treat lake with herbicide to fight milfoil

Cazenovia, NY -- Cazenovia town officials expect to receive state approval this week for their plan to treat sections of Cazenovia Lake with a herbicide for a third time to combat the spread of the invasive species Eurasian watermilfoil.

Triclopyr, also known as Renovate, was applied in 2009 and 2010. The first year of treatment focused on 234 acres in the lake's northern section, while the second year treated 177 acres along the lake's eastern and western banks and the southern basin.

This year's treatment plan includes 228 acres scattered along the lake's shorelines.

Town board member and former supervisor Liz Moran said the weed is already growing voraciously. “They are between six inches and two feet long in the areas of the lake we plan to treat,” she said at Monday night’s town board meeting.

At the weed's peak in 2008, the thick stands of milfoil had overtaken 420 acres of the 1,160-acre lake. The improvement in water quality has been noted by outdoor enthusiasts, lakefront property owners and recreational users.